Friday, April 16, 2010

Time magazine published a 200 candidate list for this year's list of the 100 most influential people in the world, amongst them is a 27-year-old author and race-car driver, Han Han (韩寒). According to Time, Han Han's first novel, based on his experience as a high school dropout in Shanghai, became a best seller in China and sparked a debate about the quality of the country's rigid education system. An avid rally car driver, he writes a mega-popular blog that pokes fun at prominent cultural figures and incompetent officials.

I encountered his blog recently and am deeply impressed by his insight and bravery. His sharp, witty, caustic and sometimes scathing commentary on popular culture and political situation has earned him a huge followers and sometimes, his blogs were taken offline from the hosting sites, but the re-posting are easy to find online. I worry about his safety and hope that the sheer maddening number of his millions and millions followers would be a good deterrence against any rash governmental displeasure.

Below are three recent blogs by Mr. Han. I'll summarize each and translate several paragraphs. I'll underline those paragraphs and change the font face to bold in the original Chinese texts.

15 March 2010 (2010-03-15 12:36:03)
During 2010's Winter Olympic Game, a Chinese gold-medalist was criticized for thanking her parents first, country later. Mr. Han wrote that during a car race in Mohe, northern China, he was very confident and especially thanked country first, then thanked his parents. Yet, on the very safe track, his car overturned. He said:This tale told us two morals, one is to believe in Brother Chun, which will only guarantee of everlasting life, nothing else [I believe that he is poking fun on pop culture here]; second is thanking country first, parents later, is this fate.

Mr. Han Han commented on the sensational publication of a low-level bureaucrat's online diary by hacker and the protagonist in the diary, a certain Mr. HAN Feng (not related, as far as I know). Han Han said in his blog that the petty bureaucrat took only small amount of bribes, didn't work much (therefore almost no damage), only slept with a few subordinates and didn't give them any big gifts, therefore this bureaucrat is an exemplary cadre in China and should not be punished for the petty offenses, comparing to astronomical offenses by other official, big or small.

He said that he conducted a poll on his blog - from more than 21,000 votes from independent IP address, 96% believed that Han Feng is a good cadre and should stay on his post.
From there, he talked about voting and the Two Conferences -- National People's Congress and National Political Consultative Conference -- in Beijing. He said,During the Two Conference period, media often asked me to submit bills to the Two Conferences, or participate in programs talking about people's livelihood, even go to Beijing to have close contacts with the Two Conferences. I declined all of these. I'm only one of the grass people [an ironic term about the masses], what do I do there? First, I do not lack a notebook computer, second, I've said that I am no actor.

But, after the Two Conferences, I want to say, that actually, our government is really very happy. Most of the masses forever think that the policies from higher-up are correct, it is only at the lower level things went wrong.
Han continued to say that Chinese people only ask for very little from their officials. They think that Han Feng is rather a very good cadre. They don't expect cadres to serve the people, as long as they don't cause trouble for the people. You can live in your luxurious mansions, ride your good cars, sleep with your subordinates, we don't want to mess with it, as long as you don't demolish my humble houses, sleep with my wife or daughter, you are the good cadre in the people's eyes. If netizens cause trouble, delete their postings; if writers are troublesome, harmonize them simply; if journalists are abominable, only need one sentence - Do not report negative news.

Han continued to say how lucky the government is and how easily satisfied the people are and asked the government cares for the people just a little bit. If you allow such good people die of hunger, illness, poverty, aggravation, poison, food, anger, injustice, water, sleep,[It seems the latter two refer to many cases when detained people for minor crimes died in police stations suddenly, with the official causes as they die of drinking water, sleeping, playing hide-and-seek with other inmates, etc.]where can you find more honest and humble people?

These Dogs Are So Trouble Some (2009-11-24 03:57:10)
Han Han talked about a story took place in a district (Minhang) in Shanghai. A certain Ms. Pan failed to protect her house from forciful demonish with Molotov cocktails. Han was glad that Ms. Pan wasn't seriously hurt or die as in many other cases. He calculated Ms. Pan's house is 480 square meter but the compensation from government can only afford her to buy 40 square meter house/flat in the same neighborhood. Han continued to discuss how the governments of all levels are taking advantage of urbanization at the expenses of dwellers.

He said that government must be regretting that if they'd known how profitable the urbanization is, they would not have let peasants to have their own lots and houses, which caused so many demolition issues. When they built prisons, they should have use that blueprints to build villages. One prison per villages, one cell per family. Then using People's Daily to instilling ideas that this is the new countryside in socialist society. From then one, no one needs to build houses on their own - government delivers houses to people - everyone has concrete walls while the doors can be made with steel bars. Of course, keys need to distribute to the people. The benefit of such operations is that though it cost at the beginning, it would not have the trouble of relocating and demolishing. The second benefit is that whoever commits crime, you only need to confiscate his key.

Han quoted major of a certain town (Huacao), GAO Baojin: You are against the government, it is certain that you broke the law, and it will certainly be dealt with.

After Han discussed further how profitable urbanization is for the governments of all levels, he wondered:

Do you think that Minhang District is abominable? Do you wonder how they can continue to stay on their posts? If so, you are too green. Because they are the most efficient tools for City of Shanghai. This can be described as this - say you are a departmental manager in a corporation and need to buy a printer with market price of 1,000 Yuan. It is similar to that you give one of your employees 1,000 Yuan, however the employee spent 300 Yuan bought the print by force, gave you a 1,000 yuan receipt, gave you 400 Yuan, and he pocketed 300 Yuan. Furthermore, you don't need to provide food for him, since he can fish. The only problem is that when he drove, his car killed several dogs, resulting in the constant barking of dogs towards your office. Let me ask you - would you fire that employee? Of course not. You only think that these dogs are so troublesome.

This year I moved to Subaru Rally Team China, Mohe the first game this year. Temperature difference between here and Shanghai nearly 50 degrees. The track is no difficulty, the team prepared for me Impreza STI very good car to open, opened as before. In the conference, I am very confident, but also specially grateful to the State first, then thank them, and believe Chun said. Race day, I started from the first bend forward at full speed, results in 9 km to actually cut a piece of ice was overturned after. This is a rally the past two years I committed a very rare error, this can actually track the safety car is turned open. If you give me another chance, that first car who turned who Take the title, I may not have this ability. Fortunately, I and the pilots are alive, Sun Qiang, was not injured, we need not worry.

This story tells us two reasons, first reason is the letter Chun, can only ensure eternal life, would not guarantee that other; second reason is Xianxie country, and then thank their parents, that is the end.

I go to find, as you so well (2010-03-14 01:17:22)

In the previous article, I set the voting feature, up to now a total of 21 million independent IP to a vote, results showed that 96%, that is, 20 million people that was a good Feng Han cadres should remain in office, there are 4 percent less than 1 million people that is bad Feng Han cadres, should be severely punished. Of course, later I will set the voting feature, to make up for vote but we have not seen a lot of elected people's deputies of regret. Starting today, I will, and major government websites unilaterally formed a strategic partnership, when they began to vote on an event, I will be here, and they began to sync to vote, I will not write any text in order to avoid vote generate implied orientation, the final results to see any difference.

Among those voting, it was from the heart that Han Feng is pretty good, appetite is small, there is the true feelings that Han Feng officials have been considered in higher personal cultivation, it was a stir, and someone is ironic But we are helpless. My grandfather breath, we all know there are difficulties, to find cadres, cadres Nongbu Hao difficult than you, then we all know, this country, good officials and bad officials. Han Feng's vote that we are almost officially entered a corrupt official is not only the good points and bad corrupt era of corrupt officials. We believe that Han Feng obviously corrupt officials are good.

Although these days, HAN Feng as bribery in land transactions have been arrested, but reported that Han Feng's news, we should not only note Han Feng play phone, play terms, play Xiao Tan. In the "New Century Weekly" interview, Han Feng said of his leadership, "Guangxi's tobacco consumption in the national rankings on the list, while the guests are consuming even lower. Han Feng's performance in one of the guest is In 2007, per capita consumption of cigarettes in the region to reach six or more, exceeding the national average amount. "

Such a beautiful place, we had less smoking than the state established an agency, there were officials of the organization, so that cigarette consumption had a small number of local people began to smoke, and finally the per capita consumption of six or more than the national average amount of surprise, which is become the leading standard. So many people smoking actually become the government sector achievements. As a decent country, you do not forget smoking, how can you set up an official body dedicated to let people do more than smoke, how you can use people's health in exchange for GDP insignificant you do this. But I then I thought, too normal, has always been so dry.

During the two sessions, often with the media I would like to proposals for the two sessions, or recording some of the programs to talk about people's livelihood, or even close to Beijing and the two made contact, I decline, I'm a man, the what I do, the first I am not missing laptop, second, say I do not acting.

However, in two sessions to a close, I want to say, our government is really very happy. Most people never think that on top of the policy is right, only to nod the implementation of shape. Decades later, they still think that on top of the policy is right, just nod how the implementation is always distorted. They have never doubted the first sentence, they "on top" or hold the most original trust. We met people fart wronged, can do the last thing is to Beijing Gao Yuzhuang, although more responsibility Letters and Visits Office is responsible for monitoring the registration of new objects and transport them. Mayor in the face of bullying, they think of the mayor, the mayor regardless of when they think of county, county regardless of when they think of the mayor, but they never find the mayor, who was fantasy of the central ministers, and even more leadership, they feel just being blocked by following these leaders have to convey his grievances, they never imagined that he wanted to see who might have long recognized that he was sick of it, may be secretly playing the next one is not bigger picture. They never beg for just a little bit of their own interests, never asked himself what right do not, they never just think that local officials, not any other questions, they just have a sit Audi's leadership in the New Year when sympathy felt very warm about, of course, it also requires him not only the poor, and poor is correct, the typical poor. They think that Han Feng has been pretty good so they do not count on cadres and services for the people, but people do not look for trouble on the line, you live in your mansion, take your good car, play your Xiaotan on, we already do not care as long as you do not step on my little strong, and demolition of my homes, get my Xiao Fang, you're a good job of ordinary people in mind. If Internet users hate, delete posts on the line, if the writers hate, harmony on the line, if the press hate, as long as a word - not to report the recent negative news on the line.

Therefore, this government is happy, you have a simple Wenliang Rong Yi met such people, although they have a lot of dissatisfaction, but the bottom line that they have the most confidence. Sometimes they gathered to trouble a thing up is because the Government had promised to them as long as their own cake to the Government, the Government will give them a bun, only to give a steamed bun. You only need to be excised from the teeth in a little meat to them when filling, they went home satisfied. Faced with such people, I really wish that the Government can forget the glory of GDP, to a point, the less time in meetings sentence parallelism, a greater share to you, less pressure on them, shelter them, covered with them, let them a little dignity, rather than through the draft was obtained through the Xinhua News Agency. If you put such good people to starve to death and died a death sentence for the poor dead poisoning die of mad Aggrieved a dead sleep Shuisi water to drink, you where to find them more honest than people do.

These dogs really trouble (2009-11-24 03:57:10)

Today, Minhang District in the Miss Pan family house was evicted, Miss Pan Molotov cocktail was thrown at the floor, helpless cottage can only be done incendiary bottles, naturally encountered technical bottlenecks, power is too small to be fire After the easy fight, fire engine, fire water cannon aimed She has finally She has surrendered.

See this news, I am pleased that, after two decades of development and social progress. Machine guns replaced by high-pressure water gun. Why will lead to such tragic compete with it? Because of this large building Hongqiao, She has an area of 480 m at home, but the government is only willing to compensate 670,000, which is 761 yuan per square meter of housing subsidies and 1,480 yuan replacement land compensation.

When the city with 10 000 Average price is measured in time, forced evictions still use 100 to calculate the price, this is the reason people throwing fire bombs, that is, people used to live in a 480 square, you have to requisition others The land for the construction of the so-called, that is business, you compensate people's money is only enough people to buy 40 square feet, and demolitions team came in exchange for a weapon any person could not help but get dig weapons.

Of course, this example illustrates some of the problems, the first year the Chinese government is justified ban guns, I remember I was a child my family has a gun, for shooting, then suddenly one day the government ordered that all of a sudden air gun hunting rifle must be turned over. This shows that our government is far-sighted, he realized that in 10 years, the social conflicts will increase, then, if people with a gun, that government departments can only be equipped with rocket launchers of the demolition.

The second year the Chinese government is far-sighted land in public ownership, even the mind of Mao Zedong in no way the economy is also aware, the Government will cost much eat, drink, tax and resources alone are not enough to spend the energy monopoly Nongbu Hao, land will is a large income. Later, the leaders are worried that sold the land in their own hands, leading to the son of the party the party not to be sold grandchildren, that time itself became a sinner, it also provides that the land transfer period is 70 years, make it easier for grandchildren They then sell once.

The third is certainly a problem the government is sorry, had known that the urbanization process is now so profitable, then farmers should not have let his house sites and houses, leading to problems that many of the demolition, to the year in the construction prison time, should use the drawings by the way the prison is also to farmers built their own village, a village a prison, a people of a cell, and then use Daily educate about philosophy, that this is a new socialist countryside, from their own no longer need to spend money on housing, the government sent directly to you room, every house is concrete, with steel doors that do directly. Of course, the key is to give other people's. One advantage of this operation, although it took some of the cost of early, but the latter never demolition of distress. The second advantage is the case who committed a crime directly to give him the keys confiscated on the line.

There are a few highlights of this incident is that some leading comments in Minhang District. The total is well known that the leadership of Minhang District, always accidentally put the truth to tell, and I think that this fact should be encouraged, as they candidly reveal the truth, always say my heart my mouth, than those who face on a private set of officials at least much stronger. Such as law enforcement brigade, Minhang District, before the fishing event remarks that "there is no benefits, why should help you." Deep and sincere words, only the officials in Zhengzhou, "You represent the party in the end, or on behalf of the people?" Can match.

The leadership of the Truth or Dare, Minhang District, received Huacao Relay.

Gao Bao-Hua Cao Town, Vice Mayor Kim said: You fight against the Government, it certainly broke the law, it will certainly have to deal with.

In addition, the construction company of the land entrusted to the Central Government shall be 1.3 million yuan per mu, the Hongqiao Airport in the total cost of demolition as much as 14.8 billion. But the hands of government subsidies to farmers for land requisition, is 380,000 yuan per mu. Why then the difference of them owned by the local government out?

Minhang District, Shanghai Construction Commission's director of transportation, the top leaders Wu Zhong Minhang District headquarters relocation right perspective on the relatively new, he thought, Minhang Hongqiao hub in this land, is Extension in the government only after a substantial upgrade message out, so by the added value of the acquired land should not be made by the masses.

Do you think it is abhorrent Minhang District? Are you wondering why their official position it is also so stable? If you think so, you too tender, because they are effective go-getters from the Shanghai Municipal Government. This is like you are a company manager, you want to buy a printer market price is 1000, so you give your employees 1,000 yuan a whole, the results of your employees spent 300 dollars to put the forced buy a printer , back to you opened a 1000 invoice, gives you a 400, took 300 of his own. Not only that, you do not have the staff responsible for the food, because he was hungry fish can eat their own. The only problem is driving employees hurry when pressed by the few dogs, leading to the outside of your office you would often see a dog barked at the roar, you said that you would not dismiss the employees? Of course not. You only think that these dogs really troublesome.